Litchfield County CT Archives History - Books .....Bridgewater, Continued 1882 *********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ct/ctfiles.htm *********************************************** ************************************************************************ The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification. ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 29, 2005, 4:57 pm Book Title: HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF NEW MILFORD AND BRIDGEWATER, CONNECTICUT, 1703-1882 CHAPTER XXIII. BRIDGEWATER,—CONTINUED. UNDER the management of its officers Bridgewater as an Ecclesiastical Society made progress equal to many of its neighboring societies from October, 1803, to May, 1856, when it was incorporated as a town by the same name. Its territory was taken wholly from New Milford township, at the southeast corner, and lies on the southern descent of Second Hill, being bounded on the south and west by the Housatonic river and Town Hill brook. Within its boundaries are included the southern part of Second Hill, Hut Hill, so named from a hut being built on it and occupied a time in the early settlement of that locality, and Wolfpit Mountain. Its principal streams are Wawecoes brook, in two branches, and Clapboard Oak brook, both running into the Housatonic river. The villages are Bridgewater Centre and Southville. It has a good soil, healthy climate, and is beautifully located. Its population in 1880 was 708. A Minister Obtained. In the meeting of the Bridgewater Society, January 9, 1809, the tax voted to be raised was, apparently, the first act towards employing a minister, for the society had authority to raise money only for religious and public school purposes, and in the next August (2ist) they voted "that we will give a candidate a call to settle in the gospel ministry in this society;" and ten days later the vote was, " we will give Mr. Reuben Taylor of Warren a-call to settle in the gospel ministry in Bridgewater society;" and they also voted that "we will give Mr. Taylor four hundred dollars per year; that Mr. Andrew Minor, David Merwin, 2d, and Benjamin Mead be a committee to call on Mr. Taylor and. make proposals for settlement." Several adjourned meetings were held during the time until December 25th, when a vote was passed appointing a committee to confer with Mr. Taylor respecting the ordination, which event was delayed, for the next action was taken January 4, 1810, "that we will give Mr. Taylor five hundred dollars, which has been raised by subscription, as a settlement, on the following conditions: provided he leaves the society within the term of ten years and the fault shall be his, he shall refund to the society in proportion as he has not tarried that term of time." The church was organized August 10, 1809, and Mr. Reuben Taylor was ordained the first pastor January 24, 1810, and was dismissed April 5, 1815. The church records were burned in 1830, and hence the impossibility of giving a full account of its success and difficulties. From the time of Mr. Taylor's dismission until February 15, 1824, the church was destitute of a pastor, but for five years following they enjoyed the regular preaching of the gospel for one-third of the time by the Rev. Fosdic Harrison, pastor of the church in Roxbury. • Mr. Taylor built and occupied the house which is known as the Lyman Smith place. The magnificent shade trees around it were set there by him, and he also set the orchard east of the house. He purchased the trees of John Sturdevant, who was to take his pay in sermons on the doctrine of election. On the following Sunday Mr. Taylor delivered an old blue one, and at the close Mr. Sturdevant said, "Mr. Taylor, we will call the tree account square." In January, 1811, a committee was appointed to make further efforts to finish the meeting-house, and in 1812 the tax which had been one cent on the dollar for religious purposes was raised to five cents on the dollar on the list. The lottery enterprise which had been started in 1807 was renewed in 1813, and Andrew Minor appointed as agent to the General Assembly to urge the matter "for the relief of said Society, or to apply for relief in some-other way." One year later, Andrew Minor was appointed agent to manage the lottery according to the best of his ability for the benefit of the Society. The final result of the lottery was disastrous, and the meeting-house was finished after some years by contributions and taxes from the people. In the early part of the year 1817 the meeting-house was struck by lightning, and this being repaired, it continued without further expense of any amount until 1842. In this year, March 10, the Society voted to repair the underpinning and steeple, put slips in the place of the pews, and cover the building on three sides with pine siding; also "to paint the outside and inside if sufficient funds can be raised by subscription." J. L. Minor was appointed a committee to circulate the same, and Lyman Smith, John Wooster, and Harmon Treat were appointed a committee to superintend the work. Church Singing. The singing at the services in the meetings was regularly arranged from year to year by the authority of the Ecclesiastical Society. Nearly as soon as the meeting-house could be occupied, in December, 1809, they appointed John Smith, Joseph C. Treat, John Randall, Caleb Beach, Jeremiah Canfield, Augustine Canfield, and Edward Bostwick, Choristers; and the same persons were appointed the next year, with the addition of Alva T. Canfield, and the society voted to "pay a sum not exceding ten dollars for singing." In 1813, Cyrus French and Castle Betts were added to the choristers. To these were added in 1814, Isaac Hill and Abijah Treat, making the number eleven, and with an equal multitude of women in the choir there must have been considerable strength, if not harmony, in the singing. But the music of those days was arranged with great care in special regard to harmony, and the training of the voice was definitely in reference to this one thing—considered then as the one great accomplishment in all music. Notwithstanding the great cultivation of musical taste at the present day, no choir can sing the old tunes with the idea of harmony as they were sung fifty years ago. A much greater art is now displayed as to variety and high cultivation of the voice, but no such effect upon the audiences of worshipers is now experienced as in the olden times, when the pathos of the minor strains of music held the audiences spell-bound in silent awe, or in tearful, devout worship, or heartbroken penitence. It is not maintained but that, on the whole, under the greatly changed theological sentiments the present style is the better; for singing, as well as all other use of talents, should be conducted in view of some end to be accomplished, whether it be amusement, joy, or sorrow; and, although it may be very difficult at the present, day as well as fifty years ago to determine, or guess, or surmise what the object very often is, yet, that intelligent, cultivated beings should have an object, and should know what the object is, may be quite reasonably concluded. It may be concluded, also, that in Bridgewater society there must have been great social harmony, or so many choristers, whatever their respective rank in the choir, could not have remained from year to year in the same meeting-house, unless their singing was of so high order that nothing could keep them from it. Dismissal of their First Minister. Scarcely five years had passed after the settlement of Mr. Taylor, when, by a series of events, so unfortunate as to make everybody sad, occurred, or had occurred, by which it became necessary for the pastor to be dismissed, however acceptable and serviceable he may have been to that time. Mr. Andrew Minor had agreed to manage the lottery, which had been entered into in all good faith by the Society, as was the custom for such bodies in those days, and finished the meeting-house, taking all responsibility on himself, being much interested in behalf of the Society, and a benevolent, good man, but the lottery in itself was a failure; and to add to the disaster, the agent employed by Mr. Minor to collect much of the money, took occasion to make a returnless journey and carried a large amount of it with him, all of which ended in financial calamity to Mr. Minor, who not long after, removed from the town in search, not of his agent, but for a better fortune. During this time of great struggle on the part of the Bridge-water Society, the Fund for the maintenance of the minister had become unavailable, or nearly so, and honesty required a rearrangement as to the expenditures of the society, and hence the following actions of the society. "Feb. 6, 1815. Voted First, that a council be called. Second, that the Consociation be the above council. Third, that Andrew Minor, Reuben Warner, Jr., Stephen Crane, Dea. John Merwin, and Daniel A. Treat be a committee to confer with Mr. Reuben Taylor to represent the society to the Consociation. Fourth, that Dea. John Merwin, Dea. Ashbel Bostwick, and Mr. Benjamin Mead be a committee to request Mr. Reuben Taylor to call a meeting of the church and represent to them the doings of this meeting, and that the committee appointed to confer with Mr. Taylor make provisions for the Consociation." Several adjourned meetings were held in rapid succession, and on the 6th of the following March they voted "that we feel ourselves wholly inadequate to support the Rev. Mr. Taylor, and think that for the best good of the society he should be dismissed from his pastoral charge in Bridgewater Society." Yeas 19, Nays 9. They also at the same time invited the Consociation to meet on the first Tuesday of April next at 10 o'clock A. M., at the dwelling house of Benjamin Mead, for the purpose of dismissing Mr. Taylor. On the 10th day of May, 1815, they voted, "that the society would make up to Mr. Reuben Taylor the remainder of the five hundred dollars which was subscribed as a settlement," all of which had not been paid because it could not be collected. At the next annual meeting in December they appointed a committee to "inquire into the situation of the Fund in this society, and inquire into the causes of the failure of said fund, and report the same to the society, and also to report some plan for the management of said Fund in the future." From this time, for more than a year, the society secured preaching or reading of sermons as best they could by the Sabbath, until in July, 1816, when they appointed a committee, Stephen, Crane, Daniel A. Treat, Doct. Levi'Beardsley, and Abijah Beach "to take the minds of the people belonging to this society respecting steady preaching, whether they generally wish to have it continued, and if so, in what way they will support it, and make their report," but nothing definite seems to have been done for two years. They then voted (Dec. 28, 1818), "that we will hire the Rev. Mr. Harrison to preach the gospel if he can be obtained, one third part of the time in Bridgewater Society." Mr. Fosdick Harrison was settled pastor at Roxbury from 1813 to 1835, and hence assumed much additional labor by preaching in Bridgewater, which was arranged in part, not long after, through .a committee to consult with the same, of Roxbury, and an agreement with Mr. Harrison, although a permanent arrangement was not made with him until 1824. He was a faithful, earnest, and acceptable minister, and this arrangement was a most favorable one for Bridgewater under its most difficult and trying circumstances. Immediately upon this arrangement an effort was made to increase the Fund by subscriptions, so as to place the society upon a more reliable and independent basis, which effort was partially successful. If at the first the subscriptions had all been collected, instead of taking notes for the amounts, and the money placed at interest in large sums on real estate security, much trouble and calamity would have been saved; but experience is the world's teacher and therefore Bridgewater must take its share. In 1817, while the society was struggling without a pastor to recover from disaster, in a beautiful April shower, down came the lightning on the meeting-house, making splinters and destruction much faster than the carpenters did when building it, but without burning the house, and on the 5th of May following the society took measures to make repairs. Had this building been a place of amusement, there would have been much talk about the judgments of the Lord against the wicked, but as it was a house of worship, the application of "judgment" did not seem to fit the religious notions of the people, as well as it would have done in the other case. The real fact is that God establishes laws in his universe and gives men reason, to exercise in regard to those laws, and therefore if very good people will build steeples without lightning rods for protection, however good and honest and religious such people may be, they are very likely to have the fun of making repairs, after the manner of the Bridgewater people and hundreds of other like societies. In July, 1829, the Bridgewater Society appointed a committee to make application to the Domestic Missionary Society (now the Home Missionary Society) for assistance in supporting the preaching of the gospel, and in the next September, voted not to give a candidate a call to settle, but to hire a minister for one year if the salary could be raised. In the annual meeting in December, 1830 and 1831, the vote gave the society's committee authority " to hire a minister for one year, at their discretion," and as a result, the Rev. Maltby Gelston was employed one year from 1831 to 1832. Mr. Gelston was pastor at Sherman, Ct, from 1797 until his decease in 1856, and must have been hired as a supply a part of the time, as Mr. Harrison had been, previously. A vote to call Mr. John W. Beecher, a native of Southbury, was passed in the Society, but he was not secured. He afterwards preached six years in Ellsworth, in Sharon. On the 18th of November, 1834, the Society concurred with the Church in giving a call to Mr. Albert B. Camp to settle, which he accepted, and was ordained pastor Dec. 9, 1834. The stipulation of the society was that either party giving three months' written notice, the salary should cease and both should unite in calling for a dismission. His salary was $365 a year, and three Sundays vacation, and during his pastorate in 1842, the new meeting-house was rebuilt. He was dismissed June, 1843. Immediately upon the organization of the Bridgewater Society quite a spirit was manifested by individuals, to escape from paying for the support of this ecclesiastical society. But a few years previously the law had been changed so as to allow persons to pay to any society or church they preferred, but they must pay to some one, and must certify to the fact for themselves, or by a known citizen, if they desired release from paying to the legal town society, or societies. The first of these certificates recorded in the Bridgewater Society's book reads as follows: " his is to certify that Gideon Baldwin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and contributes to said Church. Under my hand this nth day of September, 1804. PETER MORIARTY, Elder. Another record reads : "This may certify that I, Solomon Johnson, do declare myself to be of the Universal Order. Feb. 13, 1817." The following persons declared themselves to belong to different Churches. Methodists. Gideon Baldwin in 1804. Benjamin A. Ruggles, 1804. Phineas Gorham, 1804. Justus Weller, 1804. William Betts, 1804. Samuel H. Wakelee, 1805. Trowbridge Ruggles, 1806. Daniel Keeler, 1810. Miles Merwin, 1812. Thomas B. Reynolds. Universal. Solomon Johnson, 1817. Baptists. Aaron Hitchcock, 180 [sic] Lemuel Bardsley, 1806. Abijah Patterson, 1812. Episcopalians. Peter Phippeny, 1807. David Merwin, 3d, 1810. Homer Bronson, 1825. Quakers. Laurens Judson, 1813. After 1818, persons were not required to pay if they so notified the Society's Clerk, and the following did so. Orange Smith in 1823. Truman Bennitt in 1823. Jabez Hanford in 1825. James Phippenny in 1816. Joseph Bennitt in 1831. Cyrus French in 1831. John Randall, in 1831. Phebe Burr in 1823. Daniel Merwin ad in 1825. Sarah Canfield in 1829. Early in the year 1839, a movement began which resulted in the building of a parsonage for the minister to reside in while pastor within the society. The society owned some land near the meeting-house. A special donation was made by Stephen Treat towards this object, and shares were taken at twenty-five dollars each to secure the sum needed. Mr. Harley Sanford took the contract for $1,232.02, and in due time the work was completed; Beach Sanford and Daniel Minor being the building committee. The shareholders were: Daniel Minor, 3. Homer Treat, 2. Lucretia Treat, 2. Almira Treat, 1. Harriet Welton, 1. Beach Sanford, 2. Henry Sanford, 1. Albert Beach, 2. Abijah Beach, 3. Nehemiah Sanford, 1. Ruth Lockwood, 2. Horatio Welton, 2. Stephen Treat, Horatio N. Welton, Beach Sanford, After a time the society purchased the claims of the shareholders and it still holds the property. Rev. James Kilbourn supplied the pulpit from August 13, 1843, and was ordained Feb. 21, 1844, his salary Leing $450, including aid from the Domestic Missionary Society. He was dismissed July 1, 1850. Rev. Dillon Williams was acting pastor during the two following years, until September, 1852. Rev. Fosdic Harrison, again supplied the pulpit at intervals from 1852 to 1860, while unsuccessful efforts seem to have been made to secure a pastor; and in consequence of his oft repeated and many labors for this society, his memory is cherished with a great sense of kindly feeling and obligation. Rev. L. S. Potwin was ordained pastor here Oct. 2, 1860, and was dismissed in 1863. Rev. Henry E. Hart was acting pastor from July, 1863, to July, 1866. Rev. William H. Dean commenced his labors here Nov. 21, 1866, and he was installed Aug. 28, 1867. Simultaneous with his coming there was developed a revival of considerable extent, which resulted in the largest number of accessions at any one time that the church has .ever been favored with. During his pastorate a new pipe organ was placed in the church, which cost eleven hundred dollars, and was the gift of Lyman Smith. It was to the congregation a great and valuable gift, and is highly appreciated, it being a good and a very appropriate instrument in its capacity for this house of worship. This is specially true since the gallery is not now filled with the old twelve choristers and their thirty or forty singers as was the case sixty years ago. Nor is the house crowded as once it was, although there is still a good number in regular attendance for such a farming community. Alas! alas! Where are the numbers that kept holy-day in this sanctuary ? Rev. William H. Dean was dismissed June 21, 1871. Rev. John B. Doolittle commenced his labors with this people July 1, 1872, and was installed on the i6th of the October following, and continued there until 1879. Rev. S. Fielder Palmer occupied the pulpit nearly two years—to June, 1881—when he removed to Patchogue, Long Island, N. Y. Rev. Eugene F. Atwood, a graduate of Oberlin Seminary, is now supplying the pulpit, having commenced his labors here the first Sunday in August, 1881. Seven of the sons of this church have entered the Christian ministry, namely: Joseph Treat, William A. Hawley, Levi Smith, Isaac C. Beach, Julius O. Beardsley, a foreign missionary, Philo B. Hurd, and Albert E. Dunning. The following legacies have been received by the society: in 1847, by the estate of Abijah Beach, $300; in 1849, by the estate of Stephen Treat, $500; in 1850, by the estate of Mrs. David Young, $50; in 1873, by the estate of Lyman Smith, $1,000, in addition to the gift of the organ. St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Bridgewater. The record of the organization of St. Mark's Episcopal Society begins with a meeting held at the dwelling house of Jonas Sanford, on Easter Monday, April 23, 1810, at which William Gillett and Julius Camp were chosen wardens, Daniel Booth, Jeremiah Platt, and James Jessup, vestrymen, William Gillett, reading clerk, Samuel Lockwood, treasurer; also David Merwin, Joseph Wheeler, Blackman Jessup, Jeremiah Canfield, Treat Canfield, Jehiel Summers, and John Treat were chosen choristers, and Joel Sanford was elected to attend the State Convention within the year. The service was held at the dwellings of the several members, but more frequently at the house of Jonas Sanford, by lay-readers and neighboring ministers, for nearly twenty years, when an effort was made to build a house of worship. The site was located near the old burying-place west of where they finally built their first house, and the timber for the frame was collected at that place, but the question of the location or something of the kind caused the work to cease, and the matter was delayed some time. In 1835, the first house was erected about half a mile south of the present village, in the field, and afterwards a highway was made past it for the accommodation of the people. This building is still standing, is two stories high, and in a beautiful location. Soon after this the village began to increase in dwellings and population, and to become a center of trade, in consequence of the increase of the business of manufacturing hats, particularly by Glover Sanford, and this house of worship was found to be inconveniently located. Hence, in 1859 anew edifice was erected in the village where it now stands, which was consecrated March 14, 1860, by the Rt. Rev. John Williams. Among those ministers who officiated here before a house of worship was erected, are the names of Rev. B. Northrop, the Rev. Benjamin Benham of New Milford, and the Rev. Joseph S. Covel. Since 1835 the church has been under the pastoral charge of the following clergymen: Revs. Joseph S. Covel, Abel Nichols, George H. Nichols, William Atwell, Abel Ogden, William O. Jarvis, H. F. M. Whitesides, Abel Nichols, Merritt H. Wellman, William H. Cook, James Morton, H. D. Noble, X. Alanson Welton, W. B. Colburn, D.D., and G. V. C. Eastman, D.D., who resigned and removed to the West in 1882. The officers of the parish at the present time are: Jeremiah G. Randall, Eli Sturdevant, Wardens; Arza C. Morris, Albert B. Mallett, and Amos Northrop, Vestrymen; Arza C. Morris, Treasurer; Jeremiah G. Randall, Delegate to Convention; and Eli Sturdevant, Clerk. Methodist Episcopal Church in Bridgewater. Methodist preaching was held in Brookfield soon after, if not before the year 1800, by the preachers of Ridgefield Circuit. Peter Moriarty, who was on that circuit in 1804 and 1805, preached in the southern part of Bridgewater, and in those years several persons deposited certificates with the Bridgewater Society that they belonged to the Methodist. Episcopal Church; and Mr. Moriarty signed one of these certificates. (See page 420.): Gideon Baldwin, in 1804, Benjamin A. Ruggles, in 1804, Phineas Gorham in 1804, Justus Weller, in 1804, William Betts, in 1804, Samuel H. Wakelee, in 1805, Trowbridge Ruggles, in 1806, David Keeler, in 1810, Miles Merwin, in 1812, Thomas B. Reynolds. For many years preaching was held in the dwelling-house of Benjamin A. Ruggles, but afterwards when Southville began to grow as a village, the Methodist meetings of the region were held there. This village grew until it became a place of considerable manufacturing interests. A large tannery, several hat manufactures, one grist-mill, shoe manufactures, two stores, and a cabinet shop were in full operation. About fifteen years ago a meeting-house was built, but nearly all the manufacturing enterprises have ceased, and preaching is held once in two weeks. Early Settlers and Prominent Men. Nehemiah Sanford from Umpawaug in Redding, settled in New Milford in the Neck, where Mr. Henry Sanford now resides, in 1772, and was one of the substantial farmers of the town. He was not prominent in offices, nor a large land speculator, but a successful farmer. His descendants were not numerous, he having only two sons, Liffe and Nehemiah, who had families. Liffe Sanford, son of Nehemiah, sen., was born in Redding in 1750, and came with his father to New Milford, when after four years he enlisted as a soldier in the Revolution, and continued in that war seven years. He was present at the execution of Major Andre, saw much hard service, but returned home alive, and became a successful farmer. He died in 1815. Glover Sanford, the third son of Liffe Sanford, was born in 1797, and died in 1878, at the age of 81 years. After the death of his father he apprenticed himself to his brother, John B. Sanford, in Brookfield, to learn the trade of a hatter, being then eighteen years of age. In 1820 he commenced business in the town of Salisbury, Ct., and in February, 1821, he married Betsey, daughter of Benjamin Lake of Brookfield. In 1823, he returned to his native town, and engaged in the manufacturing of hats; in which, being successful, he associated his four sons, Charles H., Homer B., Frederick S., and Edwin G., upon their arriving at legal age, who composed the well known firm of Glover Sanford and Sons. This firm continued in the hat making business until for want of facilities they removed their business in 1870 to Bridgeport, Conn., in which he continued until his death, and the business is still continued under the same firm name. He experienced in his manufacturing career, difficulties that would have disheartened a man of less resolution-and courage; but with him to encounter a difficulty was to overcome. He was self-reliant, persevering, public spirited, upright, and of keen business foresight, yet ever ready to assist others in the time of need. In the affairs of his native town he acted with a spirit of enterprise for the public good, and hence accepted the position of postmaster in 1831, the first appointment of the kind, the office being granted by the government at his own personal expense, when the work was much more a matter of public convenience than of remuneration, and held the same eleven years, his first commission being issued during the administration of Andrew Jackson. He was a representative of the town of New Milford, and was one of the original corporators of the bank of Litchfield county at New Milford, now the First National Bank of New Milford, and a director in the same until within a few weeks of his death. Upon the organization of the town of Bridgewater, he was elected one of its first selectmen. His habits of activity kept him from the infirmities of age, and he retained full vigor of his mental faculties until the close of life. Zerubbabel Canfield came to New Milford with his father, probably, in 1726 or 7, he being 17 or 18 years of age; and in 1733 he married Mary, daughter of John Bostwick, sen., and made his residence apparently in or near New Milford village for a time, and then settled in Bridegwater where Mr. Egbert B. Canfield now resides. He was residing there in 1750, when land was surveyed to Joseph Canfield, near Cranberry Pond "east of Zerubbabel Canfield's dwelling-house," and was among the first settlers in the part of Bridgewater where now the village is located. He died in 1770, and hence saw a great change in that part of the town, in the clearing away of the forests and the settlement of inhabitants. Jeremiah Canfield, Jr., was in Old Milford in 1740, and may not have settled here until about the time Zerubbabel made his residence in Bridgewater. He settled near his brother Zerubbabel. Azariah Canfield married Mary Baldwin, Feb. 26, 1720, and settled in New Milford at the time his father did in 1726 or 7- He was the first settler in the western part of Lower Merryall, so far as we have learned. He was residing therein 1765 when Elihu Marsh, sen., bought land, in that locality,—the land where Wanzer Marsh afterwards resided. He must have removed to the north part of Bridgewater soon after, for he appears to have been residing there during the Revolution. Capt. Joseph Canfield, the youngest of Jeremiah senr's family, came with his father to New Milford when he was 14 or 15 years of age, and married in 1737, and settled in Bridgewater about 1750. He was one of the committee appointed in 1751, to build the second Congregational meeting-house. His dwelling-house was on the ridge of land north of his brothers Jeremiah and Zerubbabel, on the New Milford road, and Azariah, his brother, settled east of, and adjoining him. He was a captain in the French war, as may be seen on page 226 in this book. John Sturdevanty Jr.f came to New Milford and married Sarah Barnum in 1782, and settled in the eastern part of the Neck, a wheelwright. Stephen Sturdevant, perhaps a brother of John, Jr., came here and married Anne Sanford in 1791, and the birth of one child of his is recorded in the town. David Beach of Stratford bought of Edward Collins in 1768, for £185 lawful money, 90 acres of land with a dwelling house, barn, and one-eighth of a saw-mill standing at one side of the land; and was residing on this homestead" in 1774, when he purchased other land near it. This was the farm across the way from Mr. Egbert B. Canfield's present dwelling-house. He owned land on the north-east side of Rocky Mountain in Shepaug Neck;" which mountain lies south of Clapboard Oak Brook. Caleb Beach came into the town and married Clara Treat in 1787. The birth of three of his daughters was recorded in the town. Abijah Beach, son of David, came from Stratford and married Abigail Closson in 1790, he being in his 25th year. He became quite an influential successful farmer and citizen. Lt. Jabez Wooster, son of Timothy, Jr., was born in 1728 in Derby, that part which became Oxford. His grandfather resided in the Naugatuck valley a little way below the present village of Seymour. His great grandfather Edward Wooster was one of the first three or four settlers in Derby in 1654. Jabez Wooster purchased Sept. 4, 1772, of Robert Hawkins, 100 acres, lying "east of the Great river and southeasterly of the Great Falls," on which he resided, and two generations of his descendants. The house is still standing as it was built, with the back roof descending nearly to the ground, one of the few old houses left to represent the ancient style of architecture. Jabez Wooster had two sons, Peter and Isaac. Peter Wooster, son of Jabez, was born in 1762, and married Betsey Canfield in 1787. He was a farmer and died Sept. 12, 1798, leaving two children, John and Susannah. John Wooster, son of Peter, was born in 1790. He passed his youth on the farm attending the district school; and while a boy nearly lost his life by a log which rolled on him, making an indentation in his skull, which affected his brain. A piece of the skull bone was taken out, and a silver shilling placed under the skin to protect the brain, which piece always remained there, so that it could be said that he was never without a shilling. He early commenced teaching school in the winter season, and soon attained to the credit of being one of the best teachers of his day. After twenty-one years of age, he taught school winters and worked on the farm summers, applying all his means to buying the interests of his sisters in his father's farm. He married Jerusha, daughter of David Lockwood. He thought much of his home and seemed most happy when surrounded by his family, and enjoying the society of his friends and neighbors with whom he always lived on the best of terms. In the prime of life he met with an accident which incapacitated him for hard labor, by being thrown from a wagon and injuring one knee, but he almost constantly held some public office in the town, which in some measure compensated for his inability to labor. He once represented New Milford in the legislature. He was a prompt, punctual, upright business man, and was entrusted with the settling of estates. He was constable, assessor, and selectman, the last so often that he was sometimes called the "Old Selectman." A year or two before his death he went to live with his daughter Susan at Bridgewater Centre, where he died as he had lived, with his children around him, on May 29, 1858, aged 68 years. Jonas Sanford came from Newtown and purchased in 1794, of Samuel Canfield, 2d, 212 acres of land for £6 lawful money, with a dwelling; 65 acres with the house and barn on the east side of the road, and 147 acres on the west side of the road, in the Neck. This land Mr. Canfield had purchased of several parties. Isaac Brisco bought his first land here in 1751, of Benjamin Pickett, for £1000, old tenor money, ten acres with a dwelling house on it, and several other pieces of land "in Shippaug Neck, south of Capt. Joseph Treat's land," and settled on it at that time, and was there still in 1772, but the family appear to have all left the town not long after. Roswell Morris was born in Newtown, May 27, 1795, and was the son of Amos Morris, who was born in Stratford in 1762, and married Eunice Clark. His parents removed from New-town to Bridgewater in the spring of 1800. Here they resided until 1833, when they removed to Great Barrington, Mass., where they died. Roswell Morris married Laura, daughter of John Canfield, in 1818, and settled as a farmer a little way west of the Sanford Hat manufactory, where he died Sept. 22, 1874. Having obtained a common school education, he set out as a young man to seek employment, and journeyed as far as New Jersey, walking much of the way. He taught school in that state one or two years, then returned to Bridgewater and engaged on a farm with his brother Levi, and by degrees obtained the farm a little west of the Centre, as described above. Besides working this farm he taught school for many winters,—going often after school hours into the woods with his team and drawing wood by moonlight. He held the office of constable in New Milford, often doing sheriff's work, for which he was well qualified by strength of body, and possessing quick perception and clear judgment. During the war of 1812, while ploughing, his father came to him and represented that he had been drafted, upon which he said " I am ready," and unhitched his team, when his father let him know he was only joking, and that he was not drafted. He then replied, "if you have been trying that game you will get no more work from me to-day," and took a play-day. He held at different times the various offices in the town of New Milford, and was often employed in the settlement of estates. He was one of the first Board of Selectmen in the town of Bridgewater, and rendered efficient service in making an amicable settlement between New Milford and Bridgewater in 1756. He celebrated his golden-wedding Nov. 20, 1868, when a large company of neighbors and friends were present, with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. On that occasion he was presented with a gold-headed cane by his friends and neighbors. He held the office of warden in St. Mark's Church for many years unto the time of his decease. During the last years of his life he was greatly afflicted with rheumatism, and suffered almost constant pain, yet as long as crutches could help him he was in his place in the church. In the prime of life he was energetic and resolute to accomplish whatever he undertook, and to such a character it was hard to be reduced to a state of helplessness, but he bore it with a Christian spirit worthy of imitation. Mr. James Harvey Keeler, son of Stephen B. Keeler, was born in Ridgefield, Conn. His father removed to the Neck and settled here in 1813. He received his education at the common school, and at the age of eleven years left home to enter upon a life of arduous labor, and at seventeen was, apprenticed to a carpenter, which trade he followed about ten years. He married Harriet Skidmore, April 20, 1836, purchased a farm and worked on it some years, then erected a store and pursued the mercantile business in connection with his farm work. He then engaged in buying, fatting, and selling cattle, and continued this business, with farming, more than thirty years. He still continues farming, and is also engaged in buying, packing, and selling tobacco. Mr. Keeler was elected to the Legislature for New Milford in 1856, for the purpose of securing the incorporation of the Bridgewater Society into a town, which object by much effort was accomplished. He was a Representative for Bridgewater in 1879, was for many years justice of the peace and selectman, and has held nearly all the town offices. All enterprises for improvement—moral, religious, educational, and for general welfare have been zealously supported by him. Nehemiah Sanford, Jr., the youngest son of Nehemiah, Sen., was born in Redding, Conn., in 1762, and came with his father's family to New Milford Neck in 1773, and enlisted in the Revolutionary war when nineteen years of age, and served three months, when the war closed. He was an ardent supporter of, and attendent upon, the institutions and ordinances of the gospel, and was a reliable, upright citizen. He married Hannah, daughter of David Beach, and had a family of six children. Mr. Henry Sanford, the youngest son of Nehemiah Sanford, Jr., was born October 14, 1806. He was educated in the common school and on the farm, and owns and cultivates the farm his father and grandfather did before him; and where the Indians had a camping-ground. At the age of twenty-one he identified himself with the Congregational Society, wherein he still continues a reliable supporter, and to aid which he has held many offices. At the age of twenty-two he married Anna J., daughter of Daniel Canfield, in 1828, and had two sons, one dying in infancy. Mr. Sanford is still an active and a hard-working but successful farmer, with a good farm. Seventy-six years he has dwelt on the old homestead, steadily engaged in the toil of life, which has brought some improvements and a competency for the needs of life. Dea. Horace N. Sanford, son of Henry Sanford, was educated at district school, select school, and two years at the State Normal School at New Britain, Conn., and is now a deacon in the Congregational Church. During the late Rebellion he joined the 19th Regiment, C. V., Company H., September 11, 1862, as sergeant, and continued in the service three years, until date of muster out in July, 1865. He received three wounds; one at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864, under Gen. Grant; two at Strasburg, October 19, 1864, under Gen. Sheridan He was in the battles of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864; Winchester, Sept 19, 1864; Fisher's Hill, September 20, 1864.; Cedar Creek, October 8, 1864, and of Fort Fisher, and was at Petersburg before Lee's surrender. When wounded in the hip, he lay some little time wholly unconscious, such was the shock of the wound to the system; but the wound proved not very serious, except that it is rather a serious matter to be hit with a rifle ball in the slightest manner. Another battle was fought with great desperation, in the winter of 1862-3, while the regiment was on the line of the Washington defences, near Fort Worth. The regiment was marched out in the deep snow in front of the line of works, without their guns, and the command was given, " Break into battalions;" and as four hundred men stood confronting as many more on the other side, the order was given, "Load and fire at will;" and the will-power was freely exercised. No man deserted in this engagement until the bugle sounded a retreat. Mr. Marcus B. Mallett, son of David and Eunice B. Mallett, was born in Trumbull, Conn., in 1809. He enjoyed the privileges of education in the district school until fifteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to his uncle, Benjamin B. Beach, of Bridgewater. At the end of the first year, his uncle's health having failed, he hired Marcus to Hiram Keeler, his brother-in-law, who was a carpenter. He remained with Mr. Keeler until the October before he was twenty-one years of age, working the next year for Amos Williams, of Brookfield, Conn., at the close of which he purchased a farm of Hiram Keeler, paying eleven hundred dollars in cash and agreeing to pay a balance of nine hundred dollars at the expiration of four years. On the 8th of March, 1831, he married Sarah, daughter of Stephen B. and Sally Keeler, and has several children. By industry and economy the farm was paid for in the stipulated time and he had four hundred dollars besides, which gives the impression that there was some good soil on that farm. This farm he sold, and purchased another, and sold that in 1842. He is now living on the farm he purchased of G. R. Warner. Incorporation of the Town of Bridgewater. The Ecclesiastical Society of Bridgewater, then a part of the town of New Milford, was incorporated as a town in May, 1856, and the first town meeting was held July 14, 1856, with Doct. Horace Judson as Moderator. The following officers were chosen : Sherman Peck, Glover Sanford, and Roswell Morris, Selectmen; Charles H. Sanford, Town Clerk; Peter Wooster, Treasurer; Eli Sturdevant, Constable and Collector; Burr Glover, Burr Mallett, Samuel F. Clark, and John Keeler, Constables; Nelson D. Trowbridge and Addison Beardsley, Grand Jurors; Samuel R. Clark, Henry C. Knight, and J. G. Randall, Tithingmen; Charles Leavenworth and Alva Warner, Haywards; David Wooster, Ganger; Harley Sanford, Sealer of Weights and Measures; James M. Phippeney, Packer; William P. Bennett, Sexton; J. Platt, Burying-ground Commissioner; Henry B. Young, Pound-keeper; Peter Phippeney and S. W. Treat, Fence Viewers; Horace Judson, Registrar. The following is a list of the Town Clerks : Charles H. San-ford, from 1856 to 1859; G. M. Warner and Levi M. Warner, from 1860 to 1862; Austin H. Gillett, from 1863 to 1869; Henry H. Du Bois, M.D., from 1870 to 1874; G. R. Warner, from 1875 to l882. The following are the Representatives from 1867 to 1881: 1857 Hiram Keeler, 1858 Homer B. Sanford, 1859 Nelson D. Trowbridge, 1860 John Peck, 1861 R. J. Livingston, 1862 F. S. Sanford, 1863 Smith R. Weeks, 1864 George Beardsley, 1865 Eli Sturdevant, 1866 Glover Sanford, 1867 Alonzo Barnum, 1868 G. R. Warner, 1869 Austin H. Gillett, 1870 Daniel Keeler, 1871 Sherman Peck, 1872 Burr Mallett, 1873 Edgar I. Peck, 1874 Darwin Keeler, 1875 Bruce B. Beach, 1876 Marcus B. Mallett, 1877 John Keeler, 1878 Jeremiah G. Randall, 1879 James H. Keeler, 1880 George W. Morris, 1881 Amos Northrop. The Postmasters at Bridgewater. Glover Sanford appointed June 15, 1831. Charles H. Sanford, " June 23, 1842. Smith R. Weeks, " Jan. 18, 1853. David Wooster, appointed Feb. 27, 1862. George Lyon, " June 11, 1870. The census of the town gives the number of inhabitants in 1870 as 878, and for 1880, 708. The War Record for Bridgewater. Alexander, Charles, Private Co. G, 5th Reg't Inf’t, March 3, 1864. Mustered out July 19, 1865. Armitage, William H., Private Co. G, 5th Reg't Inf't, Aug. 14, 1863. Deserted Oct. 2, 1863. Barney, Charles, Private Co. A, 11th Reg't Inf't., Nov. 28, 1864. Deserted July 18, 1865. Beardsley, Edward C., Private Co. D, 10th Reg't Inf't., Oct. 1, 1861. Died April 25, 1862, Newbern, N. C. Beers, Hermon, Private Co. D, 28th Reg't Inf t., August 25, 1862. Deserted Nov. 18, 1862. Beers, Joseph T., Corporal Co. E, 12th Reg't Inf't., Nov. 23, 1861. Mustered out Dec. 2, 1864. Bertrame, Albert, Private Co. D, 5th Reg't Inf't., July 15, 1863. Deserted Aug. 23, 1863. Brown, John, Private Co. I, 1st Reg't H. Art., Dec. 2,1864. Deserted Dec. 28, 1864. Campbell, Duncan, Private Co. B, 5th Reg't Inf't, March 3, 1864. Deserted March 12, 1864. Canfield, Robert A., Private Co. E, 12th Reg't Inf't., Nov. 22,1861. Re-enlisted Veteran Jan. 1, 1864. Deserted July 3, 1865. Carr, Henry, Private Co. C, 6th Reg't Inf't., Nov. 12, 1864. Mustered out Aug. 21, 1865. Carr, John, Private Co. G, 5th Reg't Inf't., Aug. 14, 1863. Killed July 20, 1864. Peach Tree Creek, Ga. Chapin, Newton S., Private Co. D, 28th Reg't Inf't., Sept. 6,1862. Mustered out Aug. 28, 1863. Clemson, George, Private Co. E, 27th Reg't Inf't., Sept. 15, 1862. Mustered out July 27, 1863. Collins, John, Private Co. K, 15th Reg't Inf't., March 3,1864. Transferred U. S. Navy May 17, 1864. Conklin, John H., Private Co. D, 2d Reg't H. Art., Dec. 21, 1863. Killed Oct. 19, 1864, Cedar Creek, Va. Convey, Michael, Private Co. K, 2d Reg't H. Art., Jan. 4, 1864. Wounded June 22, 1864, Petersburgh, Va. Mustered out Aug. 18, 1865. Cummings, George D., Co. G, 28th Reg't Int't., Sept. 10, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 28, 1863. Curtis, George H., Private Co. K, 2d Reg't H. Art., January 4, 1864. Mustered out Aug. 18, 1865. Devine, Barney, Private Co. E, nth Reg't Inf't., Dec. 1, 1864. Mustered out Dec. 21, 1865. Devoo, David, Private Co. G, 28th Reg't Inf't., Oct. 2, 1862. Deserted Nov. 18, 1862. Dixon, Anthony G., Private Co. F, 29th Reg't Inf't., Dec. 23, 1863. Mustered out Oct. 24, 1865. Doyle, William, Private Co. G, 20th Reg't Inf't., March 3, 1864. Wounded. Transferred to 5th Reg't Inf't. Mustered out July 19, 1865. Duffy, Eugene H., Private Co. C, 5th Reg't Inf't., Aug. 14, 1863. Killed July 20,1864, Peach Tree Creek, Ga. Dumont, Edward, Private 1st Reg't Cavalry, Dec. 21, 1863. Not taken upon the rolls. Dupires, John, Private Co. E, nth Reg't Inf't., March 4, 1864. Promoted, 1st Lieut. Deserted July 13, 1865. Erwin, Homer F., Corporal Co. D, 28th Reg't Inf t., Sept. 6,1862. Mustered out Aug. 28, 1863. Died March 30, 1864, Bridgewater, Conn. Folk, Peter, Private Co. K, 5th Reg't Inf't., Aug. 16, 1863. Deserted Oct. 1, 1863. Foulon, Leon, Private Co. D, 10th Reg't Inf't., Nov. 18, 1864. Discharged June 13, 1865. Francis, Thomas, Private Co. G, 29th Reg't Inf't., Dec. 22, 1863. Mustered out Oct. 24, 1865. Garlick, Seymour, Private Co. D, 28th Reg't Inf't., Aug. 30, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 28, 1863. Gregory, William H., Private Co. E, 29th Reg't Inf't., Dec. 23,1863. Killed Oct. 27, 1864, Richmond, Va. Guy, Joseph H., Private Co. G, 5th Reg't Inf't., Aug. 15, 1863. Mustered out July 19, 1865. , Hamblet, David, Private Co. C, 5th Reg't Inf't., Aug. 17, 1863. Deserted Aug. 25, 1863. Hamlin, Almoit E., Private Co. C, 23d Reg't Inf't., Aug. 30, 1862. Died June 2, 1863, La Feurche, La. Hansey, Peter, Private. Co. C, 10th Reg't Inf't., Nov. 16, 1864. Mustered out Aug. 25, 1865. Harbeck, Henry, Private Co. B, 5th Reg't Inf't., March 3, 1864. Deserted Nov. 9, 1864. Harrington, Timothy, Private Co. D, 2oth Reg't Inf't., August 24, 1864. Transferred to 5th Reg't Inf't. Deserted while on way to regiment. Harvey, George, Private Co. A, 6th Reg't Inf't., Nov. 12, 1864. Mustered out Aug. 21, 1865. Hines, Peter, Private Co. I, 5th Reg't Inft., Aug. 15, 1863. Deserted Oct. 1, 1863. Hinton, Harry, Private Co. G, 20th Reg't Inf't., March 3, 1864. Transferred to 5th Reg't Inft. Mustered out July 19, 1865. Jackson, William, Private Co. H, 10th Reg't Inft., Nov. 19, 1864. Deserted May 17, 1865. Jones, Robert, Private Co. D, 5th Reg't Inft, March 3, 1864. Deserted March 12, 1864. Kansstler, William, Private Co. E, 5th Reg't Inft., July 22, 1861. Discharged, disability, Sept. 1, 1861. Langdon, Michael, Private Co. D, 28th Reg't Inf't., Aug. 30,1862. Deserted Nov. 25, 1862. Lecor, August, Private Co. K, 8th Reg't Inft., Nov. 18, 1864. Deserted Aug. 20, 1865. Mabie, Henry, Private Co. E, 27th Reg't Inf't, Sept 15, 1862. Mustered out July 27, 1863. Mabie, James H., Private Co. E, 27th Reg't Inf't., Sept. 15, 1862. Mustered out July 27, 1863. Mars, Henry, Private Co. E, 29th Reg't Inf't., Dec. 17, 1863. Mustered out Oct. 24, 1865. McLaughlin, James, Private Co. G, 28th Reg't Inft., Sept 2, 1862. Deserted Nov. 18, 1862. Mead, Frederick, Private Co. D, 28th Reg't Inf't., Aug. 30, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 28, 1863. Miller, John, Private Co. I, 11th Reg't Inft., Nov. 26, 1864. Deserted Aug. 31,1865. Muluway, George, Private 1st Reg't Heavy Artillery, Feb. 26, 1863. Deserted March 7, 1863. Murphy, John, Corporal Co. I, 9th Reg't Inft., Oct. 1, 1861. Discharged Oct. 26, 1864. Paulscraft, George, Private Co. E, 27th Reg't Inft., Sept. 15, 1862. Mustered out July 27, 1863. Payne, Henry M., Private Co. E, 12th Reg't Inft., Nov. 22, 1861. Discharged, disability, June 27, 1862. Peck, Dwight W., Sergeant Co. D, 10th Reg't Inft., Oct.1, 1861. Discharged, disability, July 22, 1862. Peck, Isaac, Private Co. G, 28th Reg't Inft, Aug. 28, 1862. Deserted Nov. 18, 1862. Peters, George, Private Co. C, 10th Reg't Inf't., Dec. 12, 1864. Mustered out Aug. 25, 1865. Puttis, Conrad, Private Co. L, 1st Reg't Heavy Artillery, March 7, 1862. Discharged March 13, 1865. Reid, John S., Private Co. K, 11th Reg't Inf't, Nov. 23, 1864. Deserted Dec. 17, 1864. Rowland, Stephen, Private Co. H, 5th Reg't Inf't., Aug. 20, 1864. Not taken up on rolls. Sanford, Horace N., Private Co. H, 2d Reg't Heavy Artillery, Aug. 11, 1862. Wounded Oct. 19, 1864, Cedar Creek, Va. Mustered out July 7, 1865. Schneeweiss, George, Private Co. F, 11th Reg't Inf't, Nov. 23, 1864. Mustered out Dec. 21, 1865. Schrieber, Henry, Private Co. L, 1st Reg't Heavy Artillery, March 7, 1862. Discharged March 13, 1865. Shanley, Thomas, Private Co. L, 1st Reg't Heavy Artillery, Sept. 20, 1864. Mustered out Aug. 2, 1865. Shaver, Harris, Private Co. I, 5th Reg't InPt., Aug. 15, 1863. Wounded July 20, 1864, Peach Tree Creek, Ga. Mustered out July 19, 1865. Shaver, William, Private Co. D, 5th Reg't Inf't., July 15, 1863. Deserted Aug. 23, 1863. Smith, Henry, Private Co. D, 28th Reg't Inf't., Aug. 23, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 28, 1863. Smith, John, Private Co. I, 7th Reg't Inf't., Nov. 30, 1864. Mustered out July 20, 1865. Storms, Harvey, Private Co. F, 29th Reg't Inf't., Dec. 21, 1863. Mustered out June 19, 1865. Thompson, Benjamin, Private Co. E, 29th Reg't Inf't., Dec. 23, 1863. Deserted Feb. 22, 1864. Thompson, Sidney R., Private Co. C, 27th Reg't Inf't., Sept. 4, 1862. Died Dec. 30, 1862, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va. Weller, John L., Private Co. E, 28th Reg't Inf't, Aug. 25, 1862. Died July 29, 1863, Port Hudson, La. Wiley, Joseph C., seaman U. S. Navy, Aug. 16, 1862. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863. Re-shipped Aug. 22, 1864, from New Milford. Discharged June 2, 1865. Wilson, Abram B., Private Co. G, 28th Reg't Inf't, Oct. 2, 1862. Deserted Nov. 18, 1862. Wilson, William, Private Co. G, 1st Reg't Heavy Artillery, Nov. 15, 1864. Deserted Dec. 2, 1864. Wixon, John, Private Co. G, 28th Reg't Inf't, Aug. 23, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 28, 1863. Woods, Patrick, Private 18th Reg't Inf't., Sept. 17, 1864. Forwarded Sept. 26, 1864. Not taken up on rolls. Wright, Samuel, Private Co. F, 29th Reg't Inf't, Dec. 22, 1863. Mustered out Oct. 24, 1865. Youngs, John, Private Co. K, 5th Reg't Inf't, Aug. 15, 1863. Wounded June 22, 1864, Marietta, Ga. Discharged, disability, May 27, 1865. Residents of Bridgewater, since the war, who enlisted from other towns, Evitts, Edwin A., Kent, Conn. Private Co. C, 13th Reg't Inf't., C. V., Dec. 30, 1861. Re-enlisted Veteran. Transferred to Co. E. Deserted Aug. 26, 1864. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF NEW MILFORD AND BRIDGEWATER, CONNECTICUT, 1703-1882, BY SAMUEL ORCUTT AUTHOR OF THE HISTORIES OF TORRINGTON, WOLCOTT, AND DERBY, AND THE INDIANS OF THE HOUSATONIC AND NAUGATUCK VALLEYS, CONNECTICUT. HARTFORD, CONN.: PRESS OF THE CASE, LOCKWOOD AND BRAINARD COMPANY. File at -- http://files.usgwarchives.net/ct/litchfield/history/1882/historyo/bridgewa55gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ctfiles/ File size: 52.7 Kb